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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Forage and Range Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314016
Title: Genome evolution of intermediate wheatgrass as revealed by EST-SSR markers developed from its three progenitor diploid species

Author
item Wang, Richard
item Larson, Steven
item Jensen, Kevin
item Bushman, Shaun
item DEHAAN, LEE - The Land Institute
item WANG, SHUWEN - The Land Institute
item YAN, XUEBING - Henan Agricultural University

Submitted to: Genome
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2015
Publication Date: 5/6/2015
Citation: Wang, R., Larson, S.R., Jensen, K.B., Bushman, B.S., Dehaan, L.R., Wang, S., Yan, X. 2015. Genome evolution of intermediate wheatgrass as revealed by EST-SSR markers developed from its three progenitor diploid species. Genome. 58:63-70.

Interpretive Summary: Intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth and D.R. Dewey, syn. Agrpyron intermedium (Host) Beauv., Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski] is an important forage crop (Wang and Jensen 2009) and a valuable gene reservoir that contributes many desirable traits for wheat improvement (Wang 2011; Mujeeb-Kazi et al. 2013). This species natural distribution is found in steppes, on open stony and aleurite slopes among shrubs up to the lower mountain belts of southern Europe through the Middle East and southern USSR to western Pakistan (Tzvelev 1976). It is widely distributed in the Intermountain region and Northern Great Plains of the USA and Canada, where it grows best on well-drained, fertile soils that receive 30 to 46 cm of annual precipitation and is used for erosion control and forage.

Technical Abstract: Intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey], a segmental autoallohexaploid (2n=6x=42), is not only an important forage crop but also a valuable gene reservoir for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement. Throughout the scientific literature, there continues to be disagreement as to the origin of the different genomes in intermediate wheatgrass. Genotypic data obtained from newly developed EST-SSR primers derived from the putative progenitor diploid species Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Love (St genome), Th. bessarabicum (Savul. & Rayss) A. Love (J = Jb = Eb), and Th. elongatum (Host) D. Dewey (E = Je = Ee) indicate that the V genome of Dasypyrum (Coss. & Durieu) T. Durand is not one of the three genomes in intermediate wheatgrass. Based on EST-SSR genome specific amplicons, the genomic designation of intermediate wheatgrass should be changed to (J-V-H)S(J-R-Ta-D)St. where (J-V-H)S and (J-R-Ta-D) represent the ancestral genome of present-day Jb of Th. bessarabicum and Je of Th. elongatum, respectively. In addition, the St genome in intermediate wheatgrass is most similar to the present-day St found in Pseudoroegneria diploids from Eurasia, and (J-V-H)S is most different from present-day Jb of Th. bessarabicum.